Yeongdeungpo-gu, Creating Barrier-Free Streets Focused on Pedestrians with Mobility Challenges

Creating a Barrier-Free Pilot Street for Safe Passage of Seniors and People with Disabilities

Improving Walking Environment with Installation of Braille Blocks, Lowering Curb Heights and Slopes, and Replacing Old Sidewalk Blocks

Thoughtful Consideration and Community-Oriented Administration for the Convenience of Mobility-Restricted Individuals Stand Out

Barrier-Free Street with Braille Blocks Installed Around Singil Comprehensive Social Welfare Center

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) is expanding its stride alongside vulnerable groups.

The district announced that it will create a barrier-free pilot street in areas with high pedestrian traffic of mobility-restricted individuals to improve the walking environment and prevent safety accidents.

Barrier-free refers to a living environment without obstacles for socially vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities.

Previously, around the Singil Comprehensive Social Welfare Center and the Korean Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities in Yeoui-dong?areas with high traffic of people with disabilities, seniors, pregnant women, and children?the roads were deteriorated and curbs were high, causing inconvenience for strollers and wheelchairs. In addition to concerns about safety accidents due to uneven sidewalks, there were no braille blocks to guide visually impaired individuals with accurate location and direction.

Accordingly, the district created a barrier-free street around the Singil Comprehensive Social Welfare Center and the Korean Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities to improve accessibility and mobility for mobility-restricted individuals and to prevent safety accidents.

The barrier-free street creates a safe and comfortable walking environment for everyone by lowering road curbs, removing level differences, minimizing slopes, installing braille blocks, and replacing old sidewalks.

First, the district refurbished the “lowered curbs and braille blocks” at crosswalks to ensure the safety of visually impaired individuals, seniors, and wheelchair users who are most vulnerable in terms of mobility rights. The height of curbs and slopes at crosswalks were lowered to prevent inconvenience for wheelchair users and seniors using silver carts. Additionally, braille blocks that did not meet installation standards were replaced, and those with directional errors were aligned with the correct walking direction.

Furthermore, the district cleared obstacles such as stored items, bicycles, and stalls placed on braille blocks, and carried out relocation work to secure sufficient distance between braille blocks, tree guards, and electrical boxes.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, stated, “We created a barrier-free pilot street to establish an environment where not only people with disabilities but also seniors and infants in strollers can walk safely and conveniently. We will continue to implement community-oriented administration that shows thoughtful consideration for the convenience of mobility-restricted individuals.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.